No one said openin' a brewery was gonna be easy. But here in Sawdust City, we don't much care for easy. We've spent 18 months patiently perfecting our brews and honing our skills and now we feel it's time to bring our beer home and finally give Sawdust City the brewery it so richly deserves.
So keep an eye on this here blog over the up coming months, cause things are moving fast and the dust is really starting to fly!

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Friday, 2 May 2014

Howdy Y'all, it's been a while since I rapped at ya, but like I've said countless times before, we've been very busy. I'd love to tell you, right here and now, that we have a solid opening date set, but sadly, I can't. We're close though...oh, so very close. Floors are polished, walls are up and the brewhouse is in place...we just have all the finishing touches to put on our brewery before we are set to open. Please bare with us though as that announcement of a solid opening date is precariously close.

In the past 6 weeks, we've seen an amazing transformation of our brewery site. Walls have sprung up like weeds, steam piping has started to crawl through the building like ivy sprouting in Spring and our once shiny stainless steel tanks have been buried under the dust of a thousand odd jobs . It's really been quite astonishing. Every time I walk into the building it looks different and I get a whole new wave of excitement. So like I said, please bare with us as we can't wait to share the news of our opening with you.

In the mean time though, please let me regale you with tales of our impending festivals. That's right, good readers, 'tis the season for beer festivals! And like any good brewery worth it's salt, we got a bunch coming up. Now that Ol'Man Winter has finally released us from his crusty, icy and most hateful grip, it's time to let loose and tear into some sweet Springtime beers. You've earned it good readers, you've earned it.

First up, we got the annual release of our Springtime favourite, The Princess Wears Girlpants. A hoppy Belgian inspired Golden Ale, this 9.0% monster will help you quickly erase the horrors of the past winter. Loaded with mounds of Motueka, gallons of Galaxy and astonishing amounts of Amarillo, The Princess is the perfect way to kick off the Spring. It's been a long year since we last saw The Princess, to take a look at our fresh new label.

We made a few changes to last years label, cause this year folks, The Princess is heading to the LCBO! That's right good readers, fresh off a Silver Medal performance at the Ontario Brewing Awards, The Princess Wears Girlpants was selected to be a part of the Summer Seasonal program at the LCBO. Starting at the beginning of June and straight through til September, you'll be able to pick up a Princess and take her home! If you can't wait until then though, feel free to stop by a kick ass beer bar near you and find The Princess on tap. Just yesterday we sent out kegs of Princess to bars and restaurants from London to Ottawa and right across the Golden Horseshoe. Happy Spring time good readers, your welcome.

Wait though, I forgot to mention on more thing. Before we kegged off our Princess, we stole a few liters away for another annual release, The Princess & Girlpants Meet the ODB.

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Last week we filled 8 barrels with our Belgian Golden and we've put them into deep storage for the next 6-8 months. So come next September-ish, keep an eye on this here blog or on any of our social media sites for more info on this years ODB release. Last years version also took home a Silver Medal at the Ontario Brewing Awards and we expect nothing less from this years version. Until then, sleep tight sweet Princess. Sleep tight.

As for all those events and special occasions I told you we had coming up, first off we have a big date with Mr,Adam Stiles, Meteorologist at City TV. On Friday, May 9th, myself and my trusty brewer Aaron Spiney, will be going on air with Adam Stiles to brew a very special collaboration for this years Session Toronto. That's right good reader, you'll be able to tune into City TV and watch all the action. I can't tell you too much about the specifics of the brew, you'll just have to tune in and find out! In the mean time, check out the website for Session Toronto and pick up your tickets cause they are goin' fast

Just over a week later on Monday, May 19th we are taking part in our first ever Brewer's Backyard at the Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. That's right good reader, on holiday Monday, Victoria Day we'll be pouring some delicious brews for their Victoria's Secret Event. Last week, Cass & Jon our hosts from The Brewer's Backyard, came up to Sawdust City and we brewed something really special for this event. Again, I can't tell you much about the details of this brew...cause it's a secret....a Victoria's secret, so you'll just have to come down to the Brickworks to find out. Keep an eye on their website for more details

Next up we have the Spring Beerfest hosted by our good friends at The Only Café. Friday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st, Beerfest is a chance to shake off the Winter blahs, catch some rays on the patio and enjoy some great Ontario Craft beer. We're hoping to be launching a certain 4.5% awesomely hoppy Golden Beach Pale Ale at this fest, so come by and get your first taste of this Summer slammer. Peep their website for more details -

Just a few days later, on Wednesday, June 4th, we'll be taking part in one of our favourite events of the year, The Brewer's Plate Toronto. Pairing fantastic food with mind blowing beer, this is truly an elite event and one not to miss. Held at the CBC building in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Brewer's Plate is a gastronomic gorge fest. So after you've picked up your tickets, pack your appetites and notch a few extra holes in your belt, cause this event never disappoints. Check out all the great chefs and top notch Ontario Craft Brewer's coming to this years event.

A short 8 days later, we'll be kicking off OCB Beer Week with an event at BarHop in Toronto. On Thursday, June 12th, we'll be bringing a whole wack of crazy one-off beers to this Toronto hot spot for a "Kinda-sorta Tap Takeover". I mean, we don't have 30+ beers in our arsenal to take over all their taps, but trust me when I say, there will be enough. A few months ago, Rob and Matt from BarHop came up to Sawdust City and we brewed a very special beer just for this occasion, that along with a number of other one-offs will be available for one night only. And just to top it off, we're also going to be taking part in a "Hop Talk" that night. That's right good reader's, while you sit quietly and sample some beers, you can listen to us drone on incessantly about our good looks and wonderful charm. Then if that's not enough, after we're done talking, you can chat with us, ask questions and hear us talk even more about ourselves. So come out to BarHop and kick off OCB Beer Week in style.

The very next day, on Friday, June 13th, we're gonna be right in the heart of downtown Toronto taking part in Session Toronto. That's right good reader's, this years Session Toronto is being held at Yonge & Dundas square. It's gonna be a wonderful celebration of craft beer at it's finest. With 30 breweries creating 30 collaborations available for one day only, this event is gonna be huge. I've already posted the website, so be sure to stop by and pick up your tickets before their gone.

Then on Saturday, June 14th back home in Gravenhurst, we're gonna be taking part in the annual Gravenhurst Car Show. For the third year in a row, we're gonna be the sole beer vendor available at this fantastic event and like last year, we're gonna be sponsoring the music stage. We'll be breaking out our draught trailer for this event, so come down to Gull Lake Park and while you check out some beautiful cars, make sure to sample some beautiful craft beer.

Well that takes care of that. So as you can see, we certainly have our work cut out for us. Like I said, we're working really hard on getting the brewery open, but we still gotta get out there and hit the festival circuit. Keep and eye on this here blog and all our social medias and hopefully you'll be hearing the big announcement soon enough.

Anyhoo, that just about does it for now. Until next time, keep the beer in you mugs and the sawdust beneath your feet.